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Brad Wilkerson filed for free agency on Wednesday. That brings the Rangers list of players who have filed to three (Wilkerson, Sosa, Hairston). Here is the complete list. This leaves just Jamey Wright eligible to file from the Rangers.
My gut feeling is that Wilkerson is done here.
That is all. Not feeling particularly wordy this morning.

Joaquin Benoit was signed to a two year contract today for 2008 and 2009. Benoit will make $2 million next year and $3.5 million in 2009. He also gets a $500,000 signing bonus.
You know what? Good. A few years back I wouldn’t have been saying that, but he’s developed into a great pitcher out of the pen. The fact that he survived Buck Showalter as well as all the managers and regimes from when he first was called up says something. I know I said something like this during the middle of the season, but it bears repeating on this day when he signed on.
This buys out his last year of arbitration and his first year of free agency.
He’s also the longest tenured Texas Ranger, making his first appearance in August of 2001. The year of Arod, Caminiti, and Galarraga. He’s been here awhile, although he’s been in the system for far longer than that, having originally signed in May of 1996.
I’m glad. Good for Jack.

Alex Rodriguez has opted out of his contract with the Yankees, saving the Rangers $21.3 million over the next three years. (link, link) Thanks Alex Rodriguez. That’s quite helpful.

What will we turn that money into? Could get a decent pitcher for that, although the market is thin. What do we spend that on? Hopefully it’s converted into the roster, and not to Hicks’ pocket.

We’re still on the hook I would imagine for the deferred money from 2001-2007, which according to my Arod Roster page, is this:

2016: $5 million at 1.75% interest (2001)
2017: $4 million at 1.75% interest (2002)
2018: $3 million at 1.75% interest (2003)
2019: $3 million at 1.75% interest (2004)
2020: $4 million at 1.75% interest (2005)
2021: $4 million at 1.75% interest (2006)
2022: $4 million at 1.75% interest (2007)

These were the deferred terms at the time of the trade from the Rangers to the Yankees. I was never clear what the interest on the deferred money was referring to. Was it 1.75% interest from the year it came from? If not, interest from what? Original contract time? Never found a good answer for that. The Yankees also owe deferred money from 2001-2007, but it’s only $1 million a year for them.

So we’re still on the hook for money, but Arod opting out saves us $21 million in salary from 2008-2010, and $9 million more in deferred money from 2023-2025. I hope we do something good with this money. What do you think we should do? Comment below.